The Saskatchewan Legislature undertook the first reading on Monday of legislation intended to protect immigrants and foreign workers from abuse and exploitation.
The Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act also aims to improve transparency and accountability for foreign nationals recruited to work in the province or who plan on immigrating.
Since 2007, approximately 39,000 immigrants have settled in Saskatchewan. Last year the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program nominated 4,000 principal applicants. The addition of accompanying family members will result in 12,000 new residents in the province.
During the period from August 2008 to August 2012, the Ministry of the Economy’s Integrity Unit received 335 foreign worker case files. Thirty per cent were not covered by an existing federal or provincial legislation.
